We’ll follow Sierra Vista High School teacher Karen Bristow from dusk to dawn as she juggles family and life in the classroom. Bristow was named a semifinalist for Teacher of the Year by the Arizona Educational Foundation.
TED SIMONS: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A NEW REPORT EXAMINES THE STATE'S TEACHER CRISIS. AND WE'LL DISCUSS THE LATEST HOMELESS COUNT IN MARICOPA COUNTY. THOSE STORIES NEXT, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."
"ARIZONA HORIZON" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS. THANK YOU.
TED SIMONS: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON." I'M TED SIMONS. STATE LAWMAKERS ARE IN A SPRINT TO END THE CURRENT SESSION. LEGISLATORS HAVE BEEN WORKING TO PASS LAST MINUTE BILLS, INCLUDING ONE APPROVED BY BOTH CHAMBERS THIS AFTERNOON THAT WOULD PROVIDE LEGAL PROTECTION TO THOSE WHO BREAK INTO A CAR TO RESCUE KIDS OR PETS. ALSO TODAY, GOVERNOR DUCEY APPROVED A BILL THAT INCREASES THE PERSONAL INCOME-TAX EXEMPTION AND REQUIRES IT TO BE ADJUSTED ANNUALLY FOR INFLATION. AND THE SENATE APPROVED A MEASURE THAT REPEALS A REQUIREMENT THAT WELFARE RECIPIENTS BE FINGERPRINTED IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR BENEFITS. THE SENATE ALSO PASSED BILLS LEGALIZING HEMP FARMING AND WAIVING TAXES ON THE SALE OF U.S. GOLD COINS. WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON END OF SESSION ACTIVITY FRIDAY, ON THE JOURNALISTS' ROUND TABLE.
TED SIMONS: EACH YEAR THE ARIZONA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES THE "TOP" EDUCATORS IN THE STATE THROUGH THEIR TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM. NOMINATIONS ARE SUBMITTED BY CO-WORKERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND STUDENTS. SIERRA VISTA 12TH GRADE ENGLISH TEACHER KAREN BRISTOW IS A SEMIFINALIST IN THE PROGRAM AND ONE OF THE TOP TEN TEACHERS IN THE STATE.
KAREN BRISTOW: ARE YOU READY TO GET UP IN ALL RIGHT. CHOOSE YOUR CLOTHES FOR THE DAY.
KAREN BRISTOW: MY NAME IS KAREN BRISTOW. I'M CURRENTLY A TEACHER AT THE BAENA VISTA HIGH SCHOOL. MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH TEACH HERE. IT'S A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE. WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE DEMANDS, FRUSTRATIONS AND ALSO THE JOYS OF BEING EDUCATORS IN THIS STATE.
KAREN BRISTOW: IT'S TIME TO GO.
KAREN BRISTOW: WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE OUR YOUNG BOYS AT THE LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND RAISING THEM IN SIERRA VISTA. IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE THEM AS STUDENTS. WE'LL CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE GET THERE. THEY ARE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
KAREN BRISTOW: YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY? KISSES. I LOVE YOU.
KAREN BRISTOW: I TEACH ENGLISH. I HAVE ALWAYS TAUGHT LANGUAGE ARTS. I STARTED TEACHING EIGHTH GRADERS. I HAVE TAUGHT EVERY GRADE LEVEL. NOW I TEACH SENIORS AS WELL AS DUAL CREDIT ENROLLMENT.
KAREN BRISTOW: I TEACH THREE DIFFERENT CLASSES DURING THE DAY. I HAVE TWO SECTIONS OF DUAL CREDIT. CURRENTLY IN THE SPRING I HAVE, 102 WHICH IS COMPOSITION AND LITERATURE. THEY HAVE FINISHED A POETRY UNIT, STARTING A SHORT STORY UNIT AND WE'LL FINISH THE SEMESTER WITH A PLAY.
KAREN BRISTOW: I REALLY ENJOY TEACHING BOTH WRITING AND LITERATURE. I CAN NOT CHOOSE A SINGLE ONE. I ALWAYS FIND SOMETHING NEW IN THE TEXT. AND MY STUDENTS HELP ME FIND NEW THINGS IN THE TEXT AS WELL.
ANDREW LAWLEY: SHE'S AMAZING. I THINK SHE'S THE BEST TEACHER I HAVE EVER HAD. SHE REALLY CARES ABOUT THE SUBJECT, AND ABOUT THE STUDENTS AND SHE REALLY WORKS HARD MAKES SURE THE STUDENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED TO LEARN AND WHAT SHE'S TRYING TO TEACH US.
KAREN BRISTOW: IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FROM DAY ONE TO ESTABLISH A RAPPORT AND CONNECTION WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. THEY ARE PART OF MY LIFE. I LIKE THEM TO FEEL PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND MY CLASSROOM.
ANDREW LAWLEY: IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE CLASS, SO THAT'S REALLY GREAT. IT FEELS LIKE WE DISCUSS THINGS THAT ARE ACTUALLY IMPORTANT.
SHAWNEE WRIGHT: I THINK SHE LOOKS AT US ALL AS INDIVIDUALS. BY THE SECOND WEEK OF SCHOOL SHE KNEW OUR NAMES AND SHE JUST REALLY CARES ABOUT OUR EDUCATION, AS WELL AS OUR FUTURE.
KAREN BRISTOW: DON'T FORGET TO BRING A POEM. IT'S AWESOME. THE STUDENTS ARE AWESOME.
